Students

BIOL3510 – Vertebrate Evolution

2020 – Session 1, Infrequent attendance, North Ryde

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Culum Brown
Kate Barry
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above including (BIOL2510 or BIOL262) or BIOL208 or (BIOL2310 or BIOL228) or (BIOL2210 or BIOL229)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
Evolution is a dynamic process that has occurred over many millions of years (deep evolution) or in recent times (contemporary evolution). This unit considers the major events in vertebrate evolution: invertebrate chordate to vertebrate; jawless to jawed; water to land; ectothermy to endothermy; and land to air. The newly emerging synthesis of evolutionary and developmental biology is having considerable impact on current vertebrate evolutionary theory, as are molecular techniques for constructing phylogenics. These topics are discussed in relation to deep and contemporary evolution of vertebrate groups. Lecture topics also include current aspects such developments in evolution of vertebrate behaviours, macro-evolution, and human evolution. The practical work focuses on phylogenics, and comparative anatomy and morphology of representative vertebrate groups, to reinforce lecture themes.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO2: Relate anatomical traits to the diversity of key vertebrate species
  • ULO1: Apply taxonomic nomenclature to vertebrate groups
  • ULO3: Associate the major steps in vertebrate evolution to body form and physiological function
  • ULO4: Evaluate different methods for determining evolutionary relationships
  • ULO5: Classify vertebrate behaviours to functional roles and interactions at community levels
  • ULO6: Communicate scientific information relevant to vertebrate evolution in oral and in written format

Assessment Tasks

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Assessment Information

In a bid to be “Environmentally Friendly” Biol369 will essentially be paperless in 2020. All assessments will be submitted on iLearn and you will get feedback electronically.

1) Weekly activities (10%). ilearn quizzes will open on Monday and remain open

These quizzes have been designed to expand your knowledge of current evolutionary concepts and test your understanding of lecture content. They will be made available from as soon as each lecture is complete. The quiz will remain open until the final exam to allow students to use them as a tool for revision. We suggest you complete them each week.

2) SciCom (10%). Your science communication project must be submitted by 11:55pm on Monday 30th March.

Australia is a country of extremes and many of our animals are superbly adapted to cope. Working in small groups, students will pick an Australian native animal to study and highlight the key adaptations that enable it to survive in the harsh Australian environment. Each group will present their findings to the class in the form in any form of scientific communication (eg 2-3min video, poster with embedded links, interactive website, animation, etc). The emphasis here is on communication. The projects will be assessed by your fellow class mates and each will score the fellow group members contribution.

3) Wildlife scientific paper (20%): Due Monday 25th May, 11:55pm via iLearn

The practical report requires your utmost attention during both the ‘rat dissection’ and ‘wildlife dissection’ practicals. As a class, we will be examining the relationship between an organism’s internal morphology and its ecology. The work will culminate in you producing a scientific paper that places these findings in an evolutionary context.

Finer details on the details of the practical exercises and the report to be submitted will be provided on iLearn.

4) Practical Lab notes (20%): Pracs 1-5 due Monday 13th April and pracs 6-10 due Monday 1st June

As a good scientist it is paramount that you learn to keep an accurate record of your experiments and activities. This usually takes the form of a lab book. Throughout this course you will be conducting a series of lab exercises which involves examination of a LOT of different material. These lab notes should not only consolidate your understanding of each prac but also provide a good resource for review. (I still have my lab notes from my Vertebrate Evolution course from 1993!)

It is expected that you will create a word document in which you will paste pictures, diagrams and notes that you take during the practical sessions. The lab “book” will be submitted via iLearn for review after prac 5 and prac 10, but will be reviewed during each prac session by your tutors.

5) Final Exam (40%)

The format of the final exam has been consistent for the last few years. It will be 3 hours long and you can find example exam papers in the library.

If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled in the interval between the regular exam period and the start of the next session.  By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments.  Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. You can check the supplementary exam information page on FSE101 in iLearn (bit.ly/FSESupp) for dates, and approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

Delivery and Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.

Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Pough, F.H., Janis, C.M. and Heiser, J.B. (2013) Vertebrate Life 9th Edition. Pearson International. Call Number: QL607.5 .E93 2006

Merrick, J.R., Archer, M., Hickey G.M. and Lee M.S.Y. (2006) Evolution and Biogeography of Australasian Vertebrates. Auscipub, Oatlands Australia. Call Number: QL607.5 .E93 2006

Unit Schedule

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Week

Date

Lecture

Lecture Topic

Internal Practicals:

1

25/02/2020

1

Introduction & Overview                         NO PRAC

 

26/02/2020

2

Australian Vertebrate Evolution

 

2

03/03/2020

3

Vertebrate Classification

(1) Tree thinking

 

04/03/2020

4

Vertebrate Origins

 

3

10/03/2020

5

Vert Structure and Development

(2) Australian Verts

 

11/03/2020

6

Jawless to jawed

 

4

17/03/2020

7

Cartilaginous fish (Joni)

(3) Chordate origins, jawless fish

 

18/03/2020

8

Teleosts: Bony fish

 

5

24/03/2020

9

Transition to land I

(4) Bony fish

 

25/03/2020

10

Transition to land ii

 

6

31/03/2020

11

Amphibians

(5) Amphibians (toad)

 

01/04/2020

12

Evolution and invasion (Rick)

 

7

07/04/2020

13

Synapsids v Sauropsids

NO PRACTICAL

 

08/04/2020

14

Ectothermy

 

 

    

Sem Break

April 10-26th

 

 

 

8

28/04/2020

15

Reptiles I (MW)

 

(6) Placentals (rat)

 

29/04/2020

16

Reptiles ii (MW)

 

9

05/05/2020

17

Birds and Dinosaurs (JA)

(7) Wildlife dissection (possum)

 

06/05/2020

18

Birds (SG)

 

10

12/05/2020

19

Synapsida and mammal evol (JA)

(8) Skeleton and teeth

 

13/05/2020

20

Mammals I (JA)

 

11

19/05/2020

21

Mammals II (JA)

(9) Cranial nerves

 

20/05/2020

22

Endothermy

 

12

26/05/2020

23

Brains and behaviour I

(10) Unit reflection

 

27/05/2020

24

Brains and behaviour II

 

13

02/06/2020

 

NO LECTURES

NO PRACTICAL

 

03/06/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

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Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

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Changes since First Published

Date Description
09/02/2020 Staff updated